Eucalyptus gomphocephala
Location: Between 13th fairway and 14th green
| Other locations on course: | 1st hole near tee. 10th hole near tee. |
| Distribution: | Southwest coastal plain of Western Australia from Yanchep to Dunsborough. |
| Height: | to 35 metres. |
| Uses: | Durable hardwood, structural timber. |
The tree in the photograph is 1.7 metres in diameter at breast height and is 30 metres tall. Near the peak of this tree is a little eagle’s nest. A pair of these birds has nested here for at least 10 years.
There are over 700 species of eucalyptus. “Eucalyptus” comes from two Greek words: ‘Eu’ meaning well and ‘kalyptos’ meaning covered. It refers to the fruit.
‘Gomphocephala’ also comes from two Greek words: ‘Gompho’ meaning nail or bolt and ‘cephala’ meaning head. It refers to the cap on the fruit.
The ages of these trees are approximately 400 years. They can live for up to 500 years.
Two hundred years ago vast forests of tuart, jarrah and marri stretched from Jurien Bay to Busselton. Today, due to clearing and disease, only a quarter of the original tuart forests remain.
Tuarts are the largest trees on the Swan Coastal Plain and remain an important habitat for animals and birds. There are good examples of tuart in Kings Park; although many have succumbed to the scourge of armarillia luteobubalina, a soil-borne fungus commonly known as the Australian honey fungus that causes roots to rot. It has been killing trees in the Park for many years.
(Sources: Wikipedia, Richard Allan & Kimball Baker)
“Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong” (Sir Winston Churchill)